Combined band-cutter and feeder



(No' Model.)

2 SheetsSheet 1.

E. J. VRAALSTAD. COMBINED BAND CUTTER AND EEEDEE.

No. 420,129. Patented Jan. 28, 1890.

(No Model) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. J. VRAALSTAD.

COMBINED BAND CUTTER AND FEEDER. v

No. 420,129. Patented Jan. 28, 1.890.

NITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

(DAKOTA TERRITORY) COMBINED BAND-CUTTER [AND FEEDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 420,129, dated January 28, 1890. Application filed May 31, 1839. Serial No. 312,719. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. VRAAL- STAD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hillsborough, in the county of Traill and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Band-Cutter and Feeder, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to band-cutters and feeders for thrashing-machines, and has reference more particularly to that class of machines in which the grain is delivered to the cylinder of the thrasher by means of continuously traveling endless chains, aprons, or belts, between which the material passes.

In the preferred form of my machine there will be two or more endless chains, belts, or aprons carried in frames pivoted at the receiving end and spring-sustained at the deli-very end, the chains being provided with arms or fingers working through slots in the floor or platform of the frames, and acting in congunction with these chains or belts is a feeding belt or apron moving at a greater speed than the receivin g-chains, the said feeding belt or apron being located above the receiving-chains and having its delivery end pressed downward by a spring or springs. Rotating knives or cutters serve tocut or sever the band before or just at the time that the grain enters beneath the apron.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 1 1, Fig. 2; Fig. 2, a transverse sectional view on the line 2 2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a sectional view on the line 3 8, Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a sectional view on the line 4 i, Fig. 1; and Fig. 5, a top plan view of the platform.

A A indicate beams projecting horizontally from the frame'of the thrasher, to which they are bolted or otherwise rigidly secured, said beams being in turn secured to inclined beams or frame-pieces B B, which extend upward from the frame of the thrashing-maghme above the beams A A, as shown in Secured to andprojecting horizontally from the frame of the thrasheigbetween the beams B B, is an open rectangular frame (7; comprising sides D, ends E and F, and a central partition G. The sides are extended upward above the ends. as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3,

to prevent the grain from working off at the sides. The central partition (in the present instance) divides the supporting-frame G into two spaces, in each of which is mounted a frame or platform II, having sides I I and a top' or floor J, provided with longitudinal slots K, extending nearly the whole length (if the same. The floor J is provided also with short slots L between the slots K to receive the rotary cutters, hereinafter referred to.

. Pivoted or hinged to the end-board F, are two levers M, which extend outward parallel with the sides I I of the platform or frame H and serve to support the ends thereof, the sides of the frame being provided with cleats N on their inner faces to rest upon the free ends of the levers. Beneath and supporting each lever M is a spring 0, which rests upon or is carried by a cross-bar P, secured to the frame 0. At the receiving end the platform II is pivotally connected with the frame 0 by means of a shaft Q, which extends. transversely through the frames 0 and II, as shown in Fig. 2, thus permitting the inner end of the frame 11 to rise and fall, the spring serving 7 to return the frame to its normal position.

In the drawings I have shown the main frame 0 as divided by the central partition G into two open frames, in each of which is mounted a frame II, and as these frames ii and attendant parts-are duplicates the de scription of one of the frames ll will apply to all of them. Near the inner end of the frame II are two shafts R and S, which are journaled in the side pieces I l of said frames, and which are provided, respectively, with sprocket-wheels (,1. and h, the said shaft S being located slightly in advance of and below the shaftR, as shown in Fig. 1.

T indicates a shaft journaled in the side pieces I 1, parallel with but between the shafts Q. and R, said'shaft '1 being provided with klliVG'S or blades 0 and with one or more sprocket or chain wheels (7, as shown in Figs. 1 and '3, the knives or cutters c projecting upward through the slots L of the floor of the frame H.

Ti U indicate endless chains, whieh'pass about sprocket-wheels e on shaft Q and the wheels I) on shaft S, the said chains being supported at their forward ends by the wheels at of shaft R, as shown in Fig.1. The num- V thereto, motion being imparted to the chains from shaft Q, which is provided at one end with a band-wheel g.

Secured to the beams B B are shafts V and \V, provided with a sprocket-wheel h at each end, said shafts being located, respectively, above the shafts essential. Pivoted to the inner faces of the beamsB B are arms or levers X, carrying at their outer or free ends a shaft Y, provided at each end with a sprocket-wheel i, as shown in Fig. 1, the shafts \V and Y being approxi mately in the same horizontal plane.

Z indicates the feeding apron or belt,which passes about the sprockets on the shafts V, \V, and Y, said feeding-apron comprising chains j, slats 7., and teeth or fingers Z, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Springs m, secured to the beams A, press or bear down upon the outer ends of the levers or arms X and aid in keeping the inner end of the feeding-apron down to its work. Shaft \V is provided with a belt-pulley u, about which and the pulley g of shaft Q a belt 0 passes, mo tion being imparted to the shaft IV, through its ban d-wheel p, from any convenient source. A floor-piece g is hinged to the upper edge of end-board F of frame C and extends outward and rests upon the inner end of the frame H, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the space between the end of said-floor-piece and the door J beirg covered by a plate g", secured to the floor. A guard-plate or bridge 5, secured to the uppcr edge of the end-board F, serves to direct the grain into the concave of the thrasher.

The machine is provided with the ordinary center-board t, which is located directly in line with the partition G, so as not to interfere with the rising and falling of. the frames H. v The operation is as follows: Bound bundles of grain are placed upon the top or floor of theframes I], and are caught by-t-he prongs f of the chains U and carried forward toward the feeding-apron Z but beforetheypassbeneath the latter the rotatingknives or cutters sever the band and permit the sheaves to spread out or scatter, so as to feed evenly. The feeding-apron Z, traveling faster than the chains U, feeds the grain from the top, and, taking hold of the same just before the pr'ongs f of the chains U withdraw, carry it into the thrasher, as will be readily understood. \Vhile the frames II II are journaled upon the same shaft- Q they are permitted to rise and fall independently of each other,

T andlt, though this is not which, coupled with the fact that the delivery end of the apron Z is yielding, precludes the choking or cloggingof the machine. Should too much grain be fed beneath the apron Z, the inner end of the frame H would be depressed, the levers M swinging downward and compressing the springs 0; butas soon as the apron Z,which-aets upon the top of the body of grain, removes some of it the frame H will gradually resume its normal position. The crowding or choking is avoided to a limited extent by the rising of the shaft Y; but as the choking would be most likely to occur beneath the shaft IV, whose bearings are fixed, it is necessary to provide for the depression of the frames H to obviate the greater part of the difficulty.

If desired, the shaft S may be omitted, and it is likewise obvious that the framing may be varied considerably without departing from my invention.

Having thus described my invention, wh'at I claim is- 1. In combination with a supporting-frame, the pivoted frame adapted to receive the grain-feeding chains mounted in said frame, a feeding-apron located-above the chains, and means for imparting motion to the chains and apron.

v .3. In combination with a supporting-frame, the pivoted frame mounted therein, feedingchains mounted in the pivoted frame, a feeding-apron located above the chains and provided with a yielding support at its inner end, and means for imparting motion to the chains and apron.

3. In combination with the supportingframe, the frame H, pivoted at its outer end to the supporting-frame, a spring supporting the inner end of said frame H, feedingchains mounted in said frame, a feedingapron located'above the chains, and means for imparting motion to the chains and apron.

4:. In combination with the open supporting-frame, a frame H, pivoted at its outer end within the supporting-frame, chains car ied by said frame H, a lever or bar pivote or hinged to the supporting-frame at its inner end and extending inward to support the frame H, a spring supporting said bar or lever, afeeding-apron located above the inner end of the frame H, and means for imparting motion to the apron and chains.-

5. In combination-with the open supporting-frame C, the frames H H mounted therein, a through-shaft Q, pivotally connecting the frames 11 H and C at their outer ends, sprocket-wheels secured to said shaft,a shaft at the inner end of each frame H, providedv with sprocket-wheels, chains U, passing about the sprockets, a support for the inner ends of the frames H, a feeding-apron above the said frames, and means for imparting motion to the shaft Q and to the apron.

6. In combination with the open supporting-frame 0, two frames II II, located side by side within the frame 0, to which they are pivotally connected at their outer ends, supports for the inner ends of the frames H H, chains mounted in said frames, a feedingapron located above and extending across the ends of both frames H H, and means for imparting motion to the chains and apron.

7. In combination with the open supporting-fra1ne, the frame pivotally secured thereto at its outer end and provided with feedingchains, the floor-piece pivoted to the supportin g-frame and resting on the inner end of the frame ll, a support for the said innenend, and a eeding-apron located above the frame II.

8. In combination with an open supportingframe having a center-board, the independent pivoted frames H on either side of said center-board, provided with feeding-chains and with a support for their inner ends, and a feeding-apron located above the frames H H:

0. In combination with axflail su citing:

frame C, a frame H, pivoted thereto at one end and provided with a yielding support at its hiner end, a rotating band-cutter and feedingchains carried by said frame II, a feedingapron located above the said frame, and means for imparting motion to the cutters, chains, and apron.

10. In combination with a frame H, provided at opposite ends with shafts Q R, having sprocket-wheels, a shaft. '1 between the shafts Q R,provided with cutters and with a sprocket-whecl, and a chain (or chains) passing about the sprockets on shafts Q B. and engaging with the sprocket on shaft '1, all substantially as shown.

ii. In combination with. frame ll, provided with the top .I, having slots K and L,shafts Q and R, located at opposite ends of the frame and provided with s procket-wheels, an intermediate shaft T, provided with a sprocket- Wheel d and with cutting blades or knives, which latter project up through the slots L,and chains U,having prongs fito extend upward through the slots J, one of said chains imparting motion to the shaft T, all substantially as shown.

12. In combinationwith the slotted floors J, the chains U, providedw-ithprongs to'work', in the" slots, means for imparting motion to the chains, a feeding-apron Z, located above the chains, and means for imparting motion to the apron, 'the said apron traveling faster than the chains, all substantially as shown.

13. In combination wit-ha supporting-frame, shafts V W, )IOVidGd. with sprockebwheels, arms or levers X, pivoted to the frame, shaft Y, carried by said arms and provided with sprockets, and an apron-Z, passing about the sprocket-wheels on the shafts.

14. In combination with a supporting-frame, the arms X, pivoted thereto and carrying at their outer ends the shaft Y, a shaft \V, mounted in bearings on the frame approximately in the same plane with the shaft Y, a-shaft V above the shafts secured to said shafts, a feeding-apron passing about the sprocket-wheels, and a spring m, bearing upon the outer end of the arms X.

In witness whereof Ihcreunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

- EnwARn J. VRAALSTAD.

\Nitnesses:

JAMES E. HYDE, WALTER L. CARTER.

W and Y, sprocket-wheels- It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 420,129, granted J anuary 2S, 1890, upon the application of Edward J. Vrazdstad, of Hi1lsbor0ugh, North Dakota, for 21.11 improvement in it Combined BandGutter and Feeder, an error appears in the word grain-feeding should read grain, feeding,- and. that the said Letters Patent should be read with t is correc'bn therein that the same may c0nf0r1n.t0 the record of the ease in the Patent Ofliee.

{ printed specification requiring the iollmvmg correct-ion, VIZ: In hne 93, page 2, the E I l c6 LL. 1 g, i F i 3:: i

L igned, emmtersigned and sealed this 4th day of February, A. 'D. 1890.

i [SEAL] eyeesrrrmsssr, i I Assistant Sem'etm'y oftheInterior.

(Jo: mtm'si gned:

lfl. MITQHELL,

Commissioner of Patents, 

